US Civil Air Patrol supports Red Cross with blood product flights
Two transport missions by Kansas Wing volunteers transferred 27 boxes of blood to three states, in support of the American Red Cross
The first mission transported blood to Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Wichita, Kansas. The second was authorized by First Air Force’s Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) for transport from Wichita to Aurora, Colorado by air.
Wichita volunteers from the Air Capital Composite Squadron drove 20 boxes, in two vehicles, from the American Red Cross processing facility in Wichita to a Tulsa facility. The team also transported six boxes of blood back to the Wichita regional facility.
Kansas Wing also received a request for an urgent transport of blood products from the Wichita facility to the University of Colorado Medical Center in Aurora. Due to its time-sensitivity, the AFRCC authorized Civil Air Patrol to perform the mission on behalf of the Air Force.
Civilian auxiliary force
“CAP volunteers continue to meet critical needs for America,” said Brig. Gen. Richard Dickens, Vice Commander, First Air Force. “We depend upon their assistance with life-saving matters.”
Aircrew members from the Air Capital squadron and Smoky Hill Composite Squadron in Salina flew one box of blood from Wichita to Limon, Colorado, where a member from the Black Sheep Senior Squadron in Centennial transported the blood to the hospital.
Acting as a Total Force partner and official civilian auxiliary of the US Air Force, Civil Air Patrol performs missions assigned by First Air Force to rapidly respond in a Defense Support of Civil Authorities capacity to save lives, relieve suffering, prevent property damage, and provide humanitarian assistance.